Detroit Pistons: The optimistic promise of this losing season
By Ryan Love
Veteran trade value for the Detroit Pistons? Not so promising
The Detroit Pistons had a busy trade deadline before the season began, but two pieces remained who many fans thought could be on the move.
Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose remain heavily in Dwane Casey’s rotations despite the simultaneous need to integrate the team’s younger players.
If Griffin and Rose were playing well to start the season, this could be viewed as a clear plan to increase their value for potential trades with contending teams willing to give up draft picks or young players.
However, it’s been a mixed bag of performances for the former All-Stars.
Related Story. Grading four-team James Harden blockbuster trade. light
Rose, 32, is seeing a slight dropoff in scoring form from last season, dipping from 18.1 points per game last season to 14.9 points per game this season.
He’s playing about three fewer minutes per game and hasn’t looked as rejuvenated as he did in last season’s bounceback performance. As the season goes on, his durability could also be an issue for teams inquiring about potential trades.
His trade value may be affected best by solid individual performances if he can string enough together as he continues to come off the bench for the Pistons.
The preseason trades the Pistons made would indicate their willing to take a package of lesser value for some shots in the dark — such as the trade that brought back Dzanan Musa and a 2021 second-round pick in exchange for versatile guard Bruce Brown (Musa was subsequently waived while Brown is flourishing with the Brooklyn Nets).
The Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat and LA Clippers would all be among teams that could use Rose’s scoring ability coming off of their own benches should he stay healthy enough deep into the season.
He would still be valuable to have around the team as the younger Pistons grew up watching him would probably appreciate his locker room presence.
On the other hand, 31-year-old Griffin has had a much more disappointing season.
Through his first nine games played, he averaged 13.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists in 32.1 minutes per game.
Casey has made it known he’d like to find more minutes for players like Sekou Doumbouya in the lineup this season.
Doumbouya, 20, has only played 11.9 minutes per game through the team’s first 11 games including sitting out on Jan. 11 against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Griffin’s play hasn’t inspired confidence in any potential trades, and taking away minutes from the next generation of Pistons doesn’t move the needle for the team’s future.